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YAJA NEWS FEED
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More than just free wine and cheese
Every wondered what a vernissage is? Being an artist isn’t just about creating work; it’s about sharing that work with others, capturing their attention and making them think. A vernissage is a celebration of an artwork’s first step into the world.
The Australian Obsession
Australia's fixation on the land is nothing new. Throughout history, the landscape played a major role in countless films, novels, poems and songs - a role that's not going away any time soon. So why are we so obsessed with our landscape? #landscape #Australian #obsession
Bridget Riley's dazzling art collection at Tate Modern
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Tate Modern in London houses some of the most famous collection of British art and international and modern contemporary art.
Aesthetica Magazine: focusing on contemporary visual art and design
Aesthetica Magazine based in York is one of the leading publications for art, design and photography.
Taut: An Exhibition Review
Systems of support make for precarious object interactions in Ally McKay's exhibition Taut. Objects are assembled in tentative arrangements, expected - somehow- to support each other against inescapable physical forces. Taut invites us into a beautiful balancing act between tension, failure and endurance. It's an act we have all at some point been familiar with. In systems where rules have already been set, either social rules or rules of gravity, we have little choice but to navigate them regardless of how little sense they make or support they afford us. Using simple materials linked to building and construction, Ally reflects on her own vulnerabilities and the resilience required to constantly stay upright against the pressure to collapse and fall within these systems. Ally's constructions are a determination to make things work. Her quiet installations embrace fragility and speak of growth and adaptation to new environments.
CHINESE CAFÉ IN NOTTINGHAM A RELAXING HAVEN FOR TEA LOVERS
What's the best way to unwind from a tough day? Curling up with a hot drink, and maybe some quiet conversation. That's exactly what this hidden haven in Nottingham offers its tea loving visitors. #tealovers #AugustMoonTea #Nottingham #Hockley
"They live for us- The Yellows"
"They live for us" - is an observation and imaginative view about the indispensable objects around us in our mundane life. How we are connected and dependable to them consciously and unconsciously is a matter of the way, how we treat them.
Sounds of Change
Will the music industry ride the post-Weinstein wave? "We come in peace, but we mean business." That was the warning from Janelle Monáe to the music industry during this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony. The annual event - in its 60th incarnation - set the stage for intensified red-carpet activism, as celebrities used white roses to symbolise their allegiance with the #TimesUp movement. The award winners, however, remain predominantly male, and soon #OscarsSoWhite was joined by #GrammysSoMale. Just over 90 per cent of the 899 individuals nominated for Grammy Awards between 2013 and 2018 were male. Since 1947, only six women have been nominated for the Grammys' prestigious Producer of the Year. A woman has yet to win. #WomenInMusic #MeToo #GrammysSoMale #Timesup @Surgemag
Trompe L'ou
Trompe L'ou is a variation on the French term Trompe-l'œil. It's an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create an optical illusion. Louise Woodmansey is an artist that has been perfecting this technique for many years. Her latest project, in a cafe at the old paper mill in Fyansford, is becoming a real attraction. This short film reveals a remarkable partnership behind the work.
CEO Marco Bizzarri to remove animal fur from Gucci’s 2018 Spring/Summer collection.
Innocent and harmless animals around the world are being brutally slaughtered in the name of fashion. Locked up, caged and trapped just so that their pelts can be used in our clothes. This needs to change. Gucci have made a remarkable decision to remove animal fur which will take effect from their 2018 Spring/Summer collection. Can brands such as Burberry and Balenciaga follow Gucci's lead? #removeanimalfur #stopkillinganimalsforfashion #gucci
The Secret Garden World with Photographer Hannah Whittaker
Immerse yourself in the whimsical beauty of Mother Nature through the camera lens of student photographer Hannah Whittaker. We spoke to Hannah to gain some insight into what inspires her stunning work.
All This Panic: NYC Teenagers Get Real in New Documentary
A lush, intimate and cinematic look into the lives of teenagers as they grow into young adults in New York City. New documentary ‘All This Panic’ debuted last week at Tribeca Film Festival and has already received raving reviews. Praised for its honest portrayal, the film explores the thoughts and behaviours of teenagers looking for their place and purpose in the world.
Catherine Truman: No Surface Holds at JamFactory, Adelaide
The SALA Festival (South Australian Living Arts Festival) is an annual celebration of local art by established and emerging artists, showcasing their work in diverse spots around the state. With such a great variety of exhibitions and events on offer this year, it was an amazing experience to see some of these striking pieces in the flesh. I had the pleasure of visiting the JamFactory in Adelaide’s CBD to see Catherine Truman’s stunning series: No Surface Holds.
The women behind Melbourne label Two Threads
Meet design duo Karen Fennell and Sally Anderson, the bowerbirds behind the Melbourne womenswear label. #TwoThreads @TwoThreads @twothreadsclothing #twothreads #melbourne #label #upcycled #ethical
Let’s Talk: The Young Arts and Journalism Awards with Volker Janssen
A month ago, I sat down to have a chat with one of the founding members of the Young Arts and Journalism Awards in Australia, Volker Janssen. The art and journalism scene has always intrigued me, with so many new ways of expression and the rise of social media, the industry has become an even tougher nut to crack into. As many may already know, it is not the lack of content, but the lack of quality that is in demand. To combat this issue, the YAJA was set up to give students an opportunity to showcase their talents and express themselves in a unique form. With graduates struggling to find meaningful work experience, they now have a community that will support them.
Make Winter Electric: Interview with Kate Sellars-Jones
If you are finding it difficult to face the dreary Melbourne landscape this winter, perhaps what you are missing is a beautiful scarf from Things Are Electric to provide that extra pocket of warmth and brilliant pop of colour to brighten your day. Recently, I had the pleasure to chat to the owner and designer of the brand, Ms Kate Sellars-Jones, about her passion for art, the inspiration behind her latest collection as well as her entrepreneurship journey. @ThingsAreElectric #ThingsAreElectric @things.are.electric
Curator of everything. A portrait of a regional gallery owner and his team.
Lavish openings, fine champagne, well-informed and wealthy buyers pushing their credit cards at you. As they say, it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it. I wish, at times, that was my job.
A Tale of Four Migrant Women, Told by Four More
In her play Remembering Palestine, Director Aleea Monsour shines a spotlight on the lives of four refugee women, and in doing so a whole generation of youth whose roots trace back to no-man’s land.
Half Pipe Dream
Emma Harvey meets a skateboarding pro who lost it all.
Europeans at the Gallery: Celebrating Art and Business
A variety of European business partners decked out the great hall of the National Gallery of Victoria on Monday night, to celebrate each other and the latest Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, and one rookie came along to see what it was all about. #ngvmelbourne
Logies Recap Podcast
On Sunday evening, Blair Cowen covered the red carpet for the 59th annual TV Week Logie Awards at Crown Casino. In true Logies style he got all the goss from the stars of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, The Block, Wentworth and a range of news personalities nominated at the prestigious event. Don’t miss the glitz, the glamour, as well as a few hilarious and embarrassing moments. - Produced and hosted by Blair Cowen, co hosted by Darren Lawton
Review: The Culture
With the passing of International Women’s Day, Wollongong playwright Laura Jackson’s second work The Culture shines a necessary light on persisting gender and sexuality issues existing in contemporary cultural discourse.
SAM LEACH PHD ASSESSMENT EXHIBITION: REVIEW
Last night, the RMIT School of Art had the rare pleasure of hosting the work of Adelaide born contemporary artist and RMIT University academic Sam Leach. With an impressive set of post-nominals already under his belt, Leach’s latest exhibit at RMIT’s School of Art gallery was the last step towards adding one more.
Le Parcours du Faubourg: Nouméa's Old Colonial Homes
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Today I decided to explore Nouméa’s colonial heritage by strolling along the Parcours du Faubourg. The Parcours is a walking trail which journeys past Nouméa’s oldest examples of colonial houses in the Faubourg Blanchot neighbourhood. In the early 1860’s this area was known as Artillery Valley. Colonists arriving from France to the new settlement of Fort-de-France (Nouméa) were encouraged to take root here in this small valley behind Nouméa’s city centre. At that time, an acre of land could be bought for 35 francs, and by 1871, virtually all the land surrounding the newly built Route du Port Despointes was owned by a Mr. Barthélémy Blanchot. In 1874 he advertised his plots for sale in the local paper and sold them as Faubourg Blanchot land, giving the area the name it holds today.
Dance Academy Movie Premier
“I always knew that in another life I could fly. Which is why in this life I dance.” I had the privilege of attending the world premiere of Dance Academy: The Movie to take a first look at the highly anticipated follow up to the popular ABC television series of the same name. There was excitement in the air as numerous fans flocked to the red carpet. I was among the lucky few who had the opportunity to go behind the scenes to discuss the making of the film with the cast and crew.
Fake Chinese movie now money-spinner in Lagos
It is hard to walk through the streets of Lagos or any other Nigerian Cities these days without coming across roadside marketers who specialise in the sale of all manner of films and musical disks. Of greater notoriety among such discs on sale are those of Chinese origin which have been pirated and translated to Nigerian local languages. The writer investigated how this has become a "thriving business" with marketers making lots of money even as their acts make mockery of the country’s Copyright Law.
A Tale of Two Critics: An Interview with David Stratton
Cinema has always been an obsession for the English-born Australian critic David Stratton. As the documentary about him, "David Stratton: A Cinematic Life", screens soon in Australia, the man himself discusses the film, writing for Variety, and his beard.
Golden Globes: La La Land wins 7, Moonlight wins Drama, Affleck wins Actor
The 74th Golden Globes Awards kicked off in full swing with host Jimmy Fallon and several of the night’s nominees partaking in a La La Land-inspired opening number.
A XXI century addiction : Are We Too Dependent on Computers to Function Without Them?
All of us in our lives depend on someone or something. Nowadays, because of the appearance of new technologies and computers, this issue has become increasingly important. Now we cannot imagine a world where no one knows what is Facebook. Every day, we invent something new, and very often we cannot even keep up with all the innovations of the IT market. Different people appreciate new inventions differently. Some of them suppose that sophisticated gadgets are really useful and necessary, while others find them absolutely awful as they influence people badly. People have come a long way in achieving the technology that now is available to all of us, but where will they lead the humanity in the future? #DigitalAddict
Historical Art of Making Toys Dying Infront of Ignorance
The origins of toy making in Channapatna, which is 65 kilometers from the medieval city of Srirangapatnam, can be traced to the 18th-century rule of Tipu Sultan. 200 years later, artisans are migrating to Bangalore to do any odd job they find and the reason for it being our ignorance. #Prestige #CulturalValues #AwakeandAct #ChannapatnaToys (quotes from laborers translated by Elizabeth Mani)
Through music and songs, refugees keep memories of Somalia alive
As India does not grant citizenship to refugees, Sharifi and others from his country face a constant struggle for money.
Johnny Hooker and Elza Soares perform at Olympic Boulevard to a crowd: out who?
lights off, crowd ready. A voice reverberated through the speakers, shouted: "Good evening, Rio de Janeiro. First, out who?" The crowd does not hesitate: "Out of [Michel]Temer ". Thus began the Johnny Hoocker show on the evening of Tuesday (9) of the Carioca capital. The artist and singer Elza Soares, special guest, unite culture and resistance in Encounters stage during programming of Olympic Boulevard and were acclaimed by thousands of people
The Latin American art in Rio
Casa Daros opens its doors to the work of ten Colombian professionals/
Black lives matter — and that means ALL lives, including those of women and girls
This piece explores the lack of media and public attention on police violence against black women and girls. I underscored the invisibility and erasure by unpacking statistics and interviewing prominent black social justice activists and community organizers such as, Feminista Jones, Cherrell Brown, Zellie Imani, and Synead Nichols, the activist who organized the Millions March NYC protest, the largest protest The Movement for Black Lives has seen so far. In tandem with the hashtag #SayHerName, this article serves as an in-depth look at the data and discourse on black women and girls facing erasure from the national conversation on police brutality. Disrupt the narrative. Expand the narrative. Reclaim the narrative.
Theatre with a purpose and heart
Jamestown is a rundown neighborhood in Accra, Ghana. Amidst its visible challenges, including sanitation, substance abuse and unemployment, is a group of community volunteers who are using theatre to bring social change.
Ziggy and Bowie: Brisbane plays tribute
Within an hour of hearing Bowie had died, director James Lees knew the show had to be about more than just Ziggy. By early January, the first show of the February season of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars had sold out. A second show for later that same night had barely any tickets left. A third show was due to be announced when news came of Bowie’s death: 10th January, 2016. “It’s such a thrill, as a creative person, to have a thing like this happen. I mean, I wish it didn’t happen but, creatively, it’s one of those things you wish for…" said keyboardist Parmis Rose. Meanwhile, director Lees Lees decided to donate ten per cent of the show’s proceeds to cancer research because, “let’s be frank, [David Bowie’s death] has boosted our ticket sales”.
Heading North : The Story of the North Journal
The roaring of the engine stops in a street adjacent to The Corso. A bundle of newspaper is thrown at the front of a sleeping café. Dormant stories, printed on smooth paper, are waiting to be unfolded. The North Journal is the story of a free and independent printed Journal, striving to reconnect with physicality in a world that embodies the intangible. Instead of gathering virtually, Matt Pike and Tim Boreham have gone back to the old way of collecting and telling stories, with real ink on paper.
Art for the Heart
At Australia’s largest children’s hospital, art is the best medicine…
Process Not Product: Redefining the Contemporary Filipino American Art Aesthetic
What do cloaks, feathered shoes, and abstractionist works have to do with Filipino American art? Welcome to the State of the State: Contemporary Filipino/American Art in the Bay Area. The roundtable event, held on May 21, 2015 at the Asian Art Museum, addresses the question of how we define and continue to redefine Filipino American art in the Bay Area.
Art Underground : A Look at Jacob Lawrence's New York in Transit
Debra Tisoy Pacio meditates on Jacob Lawrence's "New York in Transit," on display from April to August 2015 as part of Promised Land -- a solo exhibition of Lawrence's work at The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.